|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 20 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Bandula Senevirathne, Vavuniya North Group Correspondent Inspector General of Police Indra de Silva stressed the importance of having a police service with men who display love, understanding and compassion towards the public who depend on their dedicated service. "There is peace in and around us. In such an atmosphere, police officers should be able to serve the citizens and maintain law and order in the country. For this we need to have policemen who show concern for their fellowmen. Policemen should be men of integrity and those who always nurture the high ideals of the police service", he added. Addressing police officers attached to the Vavuniya Police Division during a field visit to the Police Sports Grounds in Vavuniya, the IGP recalled the police service achievements within the past 138 years and observed that the police service witnessed a radical change from the 1970s with country going through upheavals culminating in internal conflicts. The ordinary policeman was virtually transformed into a soldier by circumstances and he lost his identity and pattern of work. He lost what he had been trained to do and was expected to act like a soldier, he said. The IGP said time has come for policemen to cease playing the role of soldiers and return to their original status of serving the public as a "good policeman". "The young who joined the police service during the period of turmoil when ` the policeman was virtually made into another soldier' has to learn the police tradition and what role he has to play and learn from those who have been in service for long years, what the public expect from the Police to be a very successful police officer," he said. "In helping those joining the service we have set up a program to educate and enhance their knowledge. To perform a good service you need to be educated and should know well your professional expectations. But this is of no value unless you are dedicated to your profession," the IGP said. They are not worried about the rank a police officer holds, or of social standing. They recognise the police from their official dress the uniform they ware and from dedicated and unbiased service in times of need. "A good police officer should always be closer to the people and the people should be able to approach him or her with trust and confidence and not with fear and fright," he told the officers. Referring to police transfers, promotions, salary and houses or quarters for living as areas which creates hope, anxiety and frustrations, the IGP said a scheme has been introduced to do justice to all and what the government expect from the police is to do a good job of work to the public's satisfaction. "It is the duty of all policemen to do their duty to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of all," he added. At this meeting, while a number of police officers were rewarded for their performances in different fields, the IGP handed over Rs. 79,000 as donation to help Tamil children in Vavuniya expected to undergo kidney surgery. The IGP also visited Region No.3 of the Vavuniya-Mannar Road and handed over a house constructed with the donations made by police, to a poor family. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
